Importers complain about cargo inspection

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Importers Association is complaining about the on-arrival customs inspection of import air cargo and proposing that the government allow airfreight to be inspected at points of loading.

The association's chairman, Amirudin Saud, said at a seminar organized by the association here yesterday that the on-arrival inspection of imports by customs officials at airports had resulted in additional costs to importers.

"I have been receiving complaints from importers almost every day. They mostly complain about the slow handling of their goods by customs officials. If they want their goods inspected quickly they have to bribe the officials," Amirudin said.

The government, under the May deregulatory measures, stipulated that imports of any value transported by air must be inspected by customs officials at airports beginning July 1.

The new policy slightly amends the presidential decrees issued in 1985 and 1991, which required imports worth more than US$5,000 to be inspected by a designated surveyor company at points of loading.

However, imports worth more than $5,000 coming through seaports continue to be inspected by state-owned PT Surveyor Indonesia at points of loading.

Amirudin said he had twice sent letters to nine ministers, on June 21 and August 23, asking them to allow the imports coming through airports to be inspected at points of loading.

"I have not yet received any response from the ministers, but I've heard that they will bring the issue into the deregulation team," Amirudin said.

Meanwhile, I. Nyoman Moena, former president of Surveyor Indonesia, confirmed that the current pre-shipment inspection system for Indonesia's imports is a temporary measure.

"The main aim of installing the pre-shipment inspection to replace the on-arrival customs inspection is to facilitate smooth imports and reduce importing costs. So, it is just an extraordinary instrument only," Moena said at the seminar.

Moena said the on-arrival customs inspection could be restored only when the customs and excise directorate general could ensure smooth import flows as happens under the current system of pre- shipment inspection.

The pre-shipment inspection system, launched in 1985 under a presidential decree, practically strips the customs and excise directorate general of its inspection authority.

Earlier this month, the government decided to maintain the pre-shipment inspection system by extending its contract with PT Surveyor Indonesia for another two years.

Moena said if the government wants to restore the customs and excise directorate general's inspection authority, it should prepare at least three components at the directorate general: hardware, software and human resources.

"The customs officials must have a new and clean mentality to remove their previous notorious image," Moena said.

He said the capability and readiness of customs and excise officials to carry out the pre-1985 system of on-arrival inspection of imports will depend mainly on the government's political will. (rid)